Gulf Shores city council members unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Arbor Day, as city officials are set to kick off Gulf Shores’ 30th anniversary of celebrating the holiday.

Public Works Director Mark Acreman said he and members of the city’s Beautification board had a great Arbor Day celebration planned for the special anniversary.

“In addition to giving out trees like we do every year, we’re going to have refreshments and a specimen tree dedication,” Acreman said. “It’s going to be a large caliber tree, with at least five to six inches in diameter and it’ll be about 12 to 14 feet tall.”

The celebration kicks off on Feb. 25 at 8:30 a.m. at Sims Park Pavilion and will run until 10 a.m.

Acre man said there will also be activities for the children to keep them entertained.

The trees the city will be giving away this year include the Chinese pistache, the Pawpaw, the Eastern mayhaw, the dogwood, the flatwoods plum and the red maple.

In addition to the six trees being given away, Acreman said there would also be a special drawing open to everyone in attendance.

“Every 30 minutes, we’ll be doing a fruit tree draw, which we think people will enjoy,” Acreman said. “Everyone who is present will be given a free ticket to participate in that drawing.”

Acreman said in the 30 years the city and Beautification board have teamed up for the event, he estimated that at least 10,000 trees have been given away to local residents.

“That’s certainly something to be proud of, and it’s certainly worth recognizing,” Acreman said.

Council members also voted to extend a parking agreement with the Acme Oyster House for the business’ use of the public parking lot located near its location.

City Administrator Steve Griffin said the city had entered into a parking agreement with the business three years ago for partnership with the public parking lot at Waterway Village, with Acme making months payments of $1,923 to the city for use of the lot.

Acme had asked the city to allow them to extend the balloon payment for repaying their portion of lot costs for several more year, and the council saw no reasons not to extend the payments.

Griffin also asked the council to approve a reimbursement agreement with Auburn University to help move forward on the construction of a nearly 25,000 square-foot building partnership.

“In order for us to get the bid, it’s necessary for us to engage an architect, project manager and prepare those drawings and bids,” Griffin said. “In order to do that, the city has to appropriate the money to the Public Education Building Authority. What this reimbursement agreement from Auburn says is that for whatever reason if they don’t go forward, they will fully reimburse the city for any costs associated with this.”

The Auburn Education Complex in Gulf Shores, which will be located on County Road 8 and the Foley Beach Express, will house a veterinary teaching hospital, an Auburn aviation center, extension service space, College of Agriculture facilities that promote aquaculture and ornamental horticulture and space for the office of research and economic development to help promote opportunities for aerospace industry.

The council passed the agreement without dissent.